CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Sen. Jay Rockefeller said West Virginia's children need new schools.

Rockefeller, D-W.Va., has pushed for approval of a $14.9 billion American Better Classroom Act, which has been a portion of the massive economic stimulus bill that could open up $109 million for school construction in West Virginia.

"I'm for new schools. Not everybody is," Rockefeller said last week. "We have to do a lot better in our schools."

On Friday, though, the Senate slashed billions devoted to school construction in a compromise version of the stimulus bill, which was expected to cost $780 billion.

As of Sunday, however, the Senate was expected to approve an updated, $827 billion package within a couple of days.

Jessica Tice, state press secretary for Rockefeller, said the Senate version on Sunday still contained $10 billion over two years for school construction.

Of the construction funds that could be cut out of the Senate's version, Rockefeller is hopeful the money would be put back in during a conference committee, Tice said. The conference committee will reconcile differences between the House and Senate's versions of the stimulus bill.

The House of Representatives' version of the bill includes about $101 million for school construction in West Virginia.

Robert Rupp, a political science professor at West Virginia Wesleyan College, said he was surprised that school construction dollars were stripped from the Senate bill Friday.

"If we're going to do this for roads, why shouldn't we do that for schools?" he said Sunday.

In terms of economic stimulus, school construction creates infrastructure and will quickly lead to job growth, said Rupp, a former Upshur County school board member.

Rupp said he expects that the construction money would return during the conference committee or in another form - perhaps when Congress takes up another education bill this year.

Mark Manchin, director of the state School Building Authority, said last week that if the estimated boost to school construction were included in the stimulus, West Virginia could see more than $200 million in SBA construction funds available within the next year.

Over two years, that money could generate $800 million to $1 billion in business to boost West Virginia's economy, Manchin said. Also in two years, SBA officials have estimated the stimulus could lead to eight or 10 new schools the authority would otherwise not have the money to help build, Manchin said.

Before Christmas, Manchin sent a list of "shovel-ready" school projects to the office of Gov. Joe Manchin, his cousin. From there, the governor's office sent the list on to Washington.

The list included projects both old and new. For instance, the School Building Authority already approved funding last year for a new kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school in Harts, a consolidated middle school in Mercer County and a massive high school project in Mingo County that would consolidate Burch, Williamson, Matewan and Gilbert high schools and a vocational and technical center.

New projects include high schools in Marshall and Berkeley counties, where construction could begin within 180 days.

In all, 33 construction and renovation projects are on the table this year. "We probably are going to be able to fund all of those" if the stimulus passes, Manchin said.

He's fielded some calls from frustrated county superintendents who've asked why their projects were not included in the list for stimulus funding.

He's told one or two, "That project is no longer before us." He reiterated that county officials need to be ready to start construction on projects within six months.

Still, Manchin noted how a boost from the federal government of between $101 million and $109 million would open the door for more projects down the road.

Rockefeller said the funds would bring big responsibility to the School Building Authority.

"This is going to put tremendous pressure on the School Building Authority to make sure schools are built the right way," Rockefeller said. "That's going to have to be very carefully watched to make sure it's done right."

In the past two years, Rockefeller said he's visited 18 new schools in West Virginia. In some, he's seen major leakage and other building problems and talked to some upset principals. He did not identify the schools.

Manchin said the School Building Authority created quality and performance standards in June that outline high standards for architectural design and interior and exterior construction such as roofing, doors, windows, paint, flooring and even acoustics.

"Everything is now clearly delineated as to the quality, sustainability, the life cycle of buildings," he said.

On Thursday, Rockefeller said he hoped his fellow senators would not attempt to slash billions from the economic stimulus bill. By one estimate in the New York Times, centrist senators looked to slash up to $200 billion to make the legislation more attractive to Republicans. At the time, the Senate's bill cost well over $900 billion.

Rockefeller said he wants Republicans to join Democrats in approving the legislation, but not at the cost of jobs.

"It will cause great job loss. We're trying to put people to work here," he said.

The Associated Press

contributed to this report.

Reach Davin White at davinwh...@wvgazette.com

or 304-348-1254.